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Following is a question by the Hon Selina Chow and an oral reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, at the Legislative Council meeting today (November 7):
Question:
The Finance Committee of this Council approved a provision in 2005 for increasing the number of red-light cameras from 28 to 96, and the works concerned were completed last year. In July this year, the Finance Committee approved again a provision for further increasing the number of such cameras to 155, and the works will be fully completed by 2010. Moreover, the penalty and driving-offence points for red-light jumping have been raised since the New Year's Day of 2006. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of red-light jumping black spots at present and, among them, the numbers of those black spots where red-light cameras have been installed, as well as those where such cameras have not been but will be installed;
(b) whether it has plans to install more red-light cameras upon completion of the above works; and
(c) whether there are other new measures to deter red-light jumping?
Reply:
Madam President,
There are currently 96 cameras operating at 131 camera housings on a rotational basis. In July this year, we sought the approval for funding of $86.34 million by the Finance Committee of this Council to implement Phase 3 expansion of the Red Light Camera System (RLCS). Upon completion of the project in 2010, there will be 59 additional cameras, increasing the total number of cameras from 96 to 155 (+61%). Also, 24 more housings will be added, increasing the total number of housings from 131 to 155 (+18%). By then, all camera housings will be installed with a camera, so that we can more effectively deter drivers from and prosecute them for red light jumping.
My reply to the three parts of the main question is as follows:
(a) We do not have a specific categorisation for "red light jumping black spot". Nevertheless, if site conditions permit, junctions with more than one traffic accident involving red light jumping recorded within a year; and those junctions where the Police have detected more prevalent red light jumping activities during their daily duties, will normally be included for camera installation. With the 131 housings already in place and the 24 additional housings to be included in the Phase 3 Expansion Project, locations with more traffic accidents involving red light jumping will mostly be covered.
(b) It has been less than a year since the completion of the Expansion Project approved by the Finance Committee in 2005, and a further Expansion Project approved in July this year will commence next year. We will continue to monitor traffic accidents and prosecution trends closely, and will examine whether and how to further expand the RLCS in the light of its overall effectiveness upon the completion of the Expansion Project in 2010.
(c) We attach great importance to road safety. Apart from strengthening enforcement, we are committed to combating red light jumping and other inappropriate driving behaviour through various means, including legislation, as well as publicity and education.
In the past three years, the Police instituted an average of 41,300 prosecutions against red light jumping per year. Because of the substantial increase in the number of cameras since the end of last year, the number of prosecutions has increased in the current year. In the first nine months of this year, the number of prosecutions instituted was 56,064, which was about double that of the same period last year. The percentage of offences detected by red light cameras is 91%.
On legislation, with effect from 1 January 2006, we have raised the driving-offence points (DOPs) for red light jumping from 3 to 5, and the fixed penalty from $450 to $600, to strengthen the deterrent effect. Under current legislation, if red light jumping activities have contributed to traffic accidents, the Police may, depend on the circumstances of the case, charge the driver with the offence of careless driving, dangerous driving or even causing death by dangerous driving. Upon conviction, the drivers are liable to incurring DOPs, fines, suspension of driving licence and imprisonment. To impose heavier penalties on drivers who endanger other people's lives because of their inappropriate driving behaviour and to enhance the deterrent effect, we plan to introduce legislative amendment to increase the term of imprisonment for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving. We also plan to make it a legislative requirement for drivers who have committed serious traffic offences (including drink driving, illegal motor racing and dangerous driving etc.) and for repeat traffic offenders who have incurred 10 or more DOPs to attend driving improvement courses with a view to improving their driving attitude through education. The relevant bill will be submitted to the Legislative Council within the current legislative session.
On publicity and education, we have been working with the Road Safety Council to enhance road safety by publicity and education, instilling into drivers the concept of "smart driving with courtesy", as well as promoting a courteous and considerate driving attitude. We have also stepped up our publicity efforts against red light jumping. We have been publicising the message of complying with traffic signals through Announcement of Public Interests on television and radio and leaflets. Tunnel billboards and bus body advertisements are also mounted. We have also organised talks, seminars, thematic training courses and road safety workshops particularly for the transport trades to promote compliance with traffic signals and promote a responsible driving culture. Our publicity and education efforts will continue.
Finally, I must emphasise that we will continue to closely monitor traffic accidents and prosecutions in relation to red light jumping and will review the effectiveness of our measures regularly. We will take further measures to combat red light jumping as and when necessary.
Ends/Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:00
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